Death of a Heavenly Twin by Anne Morice

Author:Anne Morice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2021-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

2

The faint qualms which Gerald’s final warning had aroused were soon smothered by the reflection that it had doubtless been issued purely as a matter of form. Clearly, the most efficient way to cut through the net round Henry was to wrap the real murderer in an even tighter one, and the only remaining problem was how to set about it. Having pondered the matter for about twenty minutes on the return journey to Beacon Square, I decided that the first move must be to insinuate myself once more into Eglinton Hall, and that the surest route to it lay through Julie. This presented me with the necessity of inventing some plausible excuse for ringing her up and although one or two vague solutions had occurred to me the drive was over before I had hit on one which measured up to all requirements.

It was therefore in the nature of a pat on the back from my guardian angel to find a message on the hall table, stating that Miss Benson-Jones had telephoned and wished me to call her back. I lost no time in doing so and she answered in person.

‘Kit mentioned that you wouldn’t be working this week,’ she began, ‘and I was wondering if we could meet? There’s something I’d like to talk over with you, if you could spare me an hour or two. I’d ask you out to lunch, but I have to avoid public places at present. Would it be a nuisance to come and see you at home?’

She had knocked over so many of the anticipated obstacles with this speech, which came out very pat and yet at the same time flat and breathless, as though over-rehearsed, that I began to regret not having spent more time charting the open sea before pushing the boat out. Catching up as fast as I could, I said:

‘Not a nuisance at all, Julie, I’d be delighted. The only snag is that I’d planned to be away for a few days. Robin has to go abroad again and since I’m out of work it seemed a good chance. I could put it off, I suppose . . .’

‘Oh no, certainly not,’ she cut in, sounding stiff and formal, and convinced that it was now she who was faced with the unforeseen hitch, I made haste to sweep it aside.

‘Oh, wait though, Julie! I’ve just remembered something. Listen, I’m only going to stay with my cousin Toby. You remember him? Well, he lives quite near you, at Roakes Common, and I shan’t be tied down to any programme while I’m there. Why don’t we meet for lunch at Dedley, or somewhere?’

This was the real hurdle, and it was as much as I could do to hold on to the reins while she considered the proposal. I was thankful for my restraint, however, because extra persuasion might have put her on her guard and as it was she took only thirty seconds to come up with the right answer. It was agreed that I should lunch with her at Eglinton Hall on the following Wednesday.

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